Snowden's autobiography delivers what the Netflix adaptation couldn't: a first-person account of how programs like PRISM and Upstream work, why a career intelligence officer turned whistleblower, and the operational details of leaking classified material to the press. This review unpacks the book's three-stage arc and highlights its most striking insight—that refusing to claim your privacy is the same as giving it up.
Permanent Record: A Must-Read and Must-Have Book | Ricardo Nahuel Prieto | PhiloCyber
Edward Snowden's "Permanent Record," published in 2019, is one of those books that rewires how you think about digital privacy. Here is a review of what it covers and why it matters.
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Permanent Record — Edward Snowden's autobiography
Permanent Record — Edward Snowden's autobiography
This book, based on Snowden's life and told in his own words (with a little help from professional writers), makes for a highly engaging read that's easy to follow and remember.
You might have seen the Netflix movie about him, and if not, I highly recommend it! While there are similarities, the story as Snowden narrates in his book is mostly quite different, offering detailed insights as only he could.
The Book's Journey
"Permanent Record" unfolds in three stages.
Stage I — Focuses on Snowden's childhood and youth, his early encounters with technology and the internet, his beautiful notion of "free Internet," his thwarted academic career, how 9/11 changed everything, his renewed patriotism, his stint in the army, his first job experiences, and meeting his great love, Lindsay.
Stage II — By now, Snowden is actively working for US agencies through contractors like Dell. He shares his initial brushes with bureaucracy and the working methodologies of American agencies abroad, questioning the system, especially how devastating actions for the public can benefit the elites—a realization he comes to in Geneva in 2008, amidst the US housing bubble crisis.
Stage III — The final stage is thrilling, as Snowden exposes the extent of the secret programs he helped create, the operations of various agencies, and their international cooperation in surveillance and intelligence.
He discusses his decision to intervene, the whirlwind of thoughts regarding the significant choice he's about to make, and advises on protecting our "private" information through encryption.
The last part, detailing how he began leaking sensitive agency information to international media and ended up residing in Moscow, is especially compelling.
Review Highlights
"Permanent Record" surprised me with its level of narrative. It's captivating from the first chapter, increasingly so towards the end.
It starts with Snowden's life, sharing his early experiences with a family computer. Given his family's deep government ties, he always emphasizes his respect and love for his country, instilled in him since childhood.
Not to dwell too long on the review, what I loved most about the first stage was the author's definition of what it means to be a hacker and his views on the old Internet—a network free from corporate ads, where anonymity was possible, and a passionate community thrived on learning and sharing knowledge.
As the story moves past 9/11, Snowden recounts his first job experiences and how he landed a role within the Intelligence Community (IC) after an extensive personal investigation (SSBI).
He mentions secret NSA programs and the workings of the IC's digital and physical espionage methodologies.
It's disheartening to learn about powerful programs that can access someone's social media, emails, and even personal computers remotely without any restrictions, highlighting the ease with which our privacy can be compromised.
The book also delves into the IoT technology dilemma, balancing the benefits and privacy risks, and Snowden's amusing first encounter with a Smart fridge.
One poignant quote from the book, after discussing privacy chapters, stood out:
"Refusing to claim your privacy is tantamount to giving it up."
The book concludes with an overview of PRISM and Upstream collection methods and Snowden's rationale and methods for leaking the abuses of surveillance powers, including his advice on defending against invasive surveillance and maintaining anonymity online.
Conclusion
"Permanent Record" isn't just a technical read on technologies or methodologies. It's an eye-opener on how espionage agencies operate and a deeper look at how the world functions, all from a uniquely informational systems perspective.
I highly recommend it, perhaps even more than other books I've reviewed on the subject. Snowden perfectly conveys his life's emotions, achievements, and failures, emphasizing he was never "chosen" or "special," but rather an ordinary person with daily successes and failures.
